Measuring Intimate Partner Violence

This brief provides guidance for the non-expert on how to collect valid quantitative data on partner violence in an ethically and methodologically sound manner. Specifically, it addresses:

Definitions

Ethical and safety obligations (informed consent, privacy)

Methods for increasing disclosure among research participants

Minimum items necessary for measuring intimate partner violence

Defining IPV as an outcome or exposure variable

Definition of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

IPV can be defined as a pattern of behaviour within an intimate relationship that includes physical or sexually violent acts, often accompanied by emotional aggression and controlling behaviours, enacted by a current or former intimate partner (i.e. spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, dating partner, or ongoing sexual partner).Partner violence includes:

Physical aggression – such as slapping hitting, kicking beating;

Forced intercourse or other forms of sexual coercion;

Psychological abuse – such as intimidation, constant belittling, and humiliation;

Controlling behaviours – such as isolating a person from their family and friends, monitoring their movements, and restricting their access to assistance or information.